Cover for truck beds

ABSTRACT

A removable cover for pickup truck bed is disclosed. The cover includes a rigid frame with stakes, the frame seating upon the top edges of the bed and the stakes fitting into recesses typically provided therein for that purpose. A pair of catches carried wholly by the cover along each side thereof engage the flanges typically provided along the two sides of the truck bed, the catches along each side being conjointly operated by a crankshaft. The catches are spring biased to resiliently hold the cover to the bed, and at the same time, when the two catches along one side of the cover are released, to permit that side to be lifted against the spring pressure of the two catches along the other side. Additionally, the catches may be designed so that the rear two only may be released, whence the rear of the cover may be lifted against the spring pressure of the front two catches.

United States Patent Primary ExaminerBenjamin Hersh AssistantExaminer-Robert R. Song Attorneys-Haven E. Simmons and James C. NemmersABSTRACT: A removable cover for pickup truck bed is disclosed. The coverincludes a rigid frame with stakes, the frame seating upon the top edgesof the bed and the stakes fitting into recesses typically providedtherein for that purpose. A

pair of catches carried wholly by the cover along each side thereofengage the flanges typically provided along the two sides of the truckbed, the catches along each side being conjointly operated by acrankshaft. The catches are spring biased to resiliently hold the coverto the bed, and at the same time, when the two catches along one side ofthe cover are released, to permit that side to be lifted against thespring pressure of the two catches along the other side. Additionally,the catches may be designed so that the rear two only may be released,whence the rear of the cover may be lifted against the spring pressureof the front two catches.

PATENTEumRamsn 3572.821

SHEET 2 [1F 2 INVENTOR.

DANIAL ROE VAN ANTWERP ATTORNEY COVER FOR TRUCK BEDS BACKGROUND OFTI-IEINVENTION Prior pickup truck bed covers of the removably fastenable typetypically require some permanent attachments to the truck bed in orderthat they may function, an example being shown in US. Pat. No.2,886,375to Crawford. This is un-. desirable as such attachments maynot onlyinterfere with other use of the bed when the cover is removed but alsointerfere with ready transfer of the bed cover from one truck toanother. The latter aspect is important because the beds of equivalentlyrated pickup trucks are usually substantially identical in size andstructure so that a bed cover of one truck ought easily to betransferable to another with at the most, only slight modification. Atthe same time, the'fastening mechanism should be as simple, rugged andunobtrusive as possiblez'These are the objects and features of thepresent inventionxwhich takes advantage of the typical construction ofthe-beds of current pickup trucks to provide a securely fastened, easilyremovable and transferable bed cover requiring no permanent attachmentsto the truck bed in order for-it to function effectively.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Essentially, the present invention employs arigid bed cover having a simple innerframelike structure, the lattercarrying several depending stakes to fit within the recesses thereforetypically. provided along the top side edges of modern'pickup truckbeds, the frame itself sitting on the top edges of the front andsidewalls of the bed. A lower lip at the rear of the cover overlaps thetailgate, thus holding itclosed, or the tailgate may be left open sothat long objects, such. as lumber, can be loaded. Along each side ofthe frame and journaled therein is a crankshaft which protrudes from therear of the cover and is fitted with a handle by which it may berotated. Spaced along each such shaft are two crankpins, each of whichoperates one of a pair of catches to retain the cover upon the bed.

Each catch comprises a tubular spring housing, one of the crankpinsextending transversely through an axiallyextending,

diametrical slot in the upper end of the housing. To each crankpin isattached the upper end of an extensible coil spring disposed undertension in the housing, the lower end of the spring being attached tothe lower-end of the housing; The

lower end of the latter is also provided with a hook-like membereffective, upon rotation of the crankpins :by the crankshaft, to movelaterally under and then up to engage the down-turned flange, with whichsuch beds are typically equipped, along the inner top edge of itsadjacent bed sidewall. Further rotation of the crankshaft causes thespring to be still further extended, so that the hook is tightlyengagedv with the flange, until the crankpin passes overcenter," a stopand the edges of the slot in the housing preventing further rotation ofthe crankshaft, whence the spring is locked in its extended position andthe cover maintained tightly seated upon the top of the bed. Rotatingthe crankshaft the other way permits the spring to contract andthehousing and hook to be swung down and laterally away from under theflange.

Releasing only one side of the cover allows thatside to be lifted foraccess to the bed, the springs of the other side of the BRIEFDESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an upper isometric view of atypical pickup truck showing a bed cover according to the presentinvention in exploded relation to the truck bed.

FIG. 2 is a detail view taken along the line 22 of FIG. I showing theposition of one of the two catches at the front of the cover in itsreleased position.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 2 but shows the catch in its engaged andlocked position.

FIG. 5 is a truncated rear end view of the pickup truck bed, partly insection, showing the rear pair of catches with the bed cover releasedand elevated along one side thereof only.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. I illustrates a rectangularbed 10 of a typical pickup truck having a floor 11, sidewalls I2 and I3and a front wall 14, the tops of each having a flat seat I5 thereaboutformed by a horizontal portion of an inwardly extending, downturnedledge or flange 16. As is customary, along each sidewall 12 and 13 theseats 15 thereof are rectangularly apertured at its two ends andmidpoint to provide three recesses 17 in which to receive bed stakeswhich extend down into hollow supports l8 secured between the seats 15and inner sidewall panels 19 therebelow. A typical tailgate 20, flushwith the seats 15, is hinged at its lower margin to the rear end of thefloor II.

The bed cover, generally designated at 21, includes a generallyrectangular frame congruent with the top plan of the bed 10 having siderails 22 and 23 and end pieces 24 and 25, all with flat underfaces tosit upon the seats 15 and the top of tailgate 20, the side rails 22 and23" also having an intermediate cross brace 26 therebetween. The endpieces 24 and 25 may be apexed midway along their upper edges to receivea generally pyramidal shaped top plate 27, of any suitably rigidmaterial such as aluminum, having a front end plate 28 sitting atop theseat 15 of the front wall 14 and a rear end plate 29 overlapping thetailgate 20, locking the latter in its closed position. From the lowerface of each side rail 22 and 23 adjacent its two ends and at itsmidpoint depend three short, rectangular stakes 30 disposed ther'ealongto engage the respective recesses 17 in order to locate the cover 21atop the bed 10. The stakes 30, however, are sufficiently slender andtapered to pennit the cover to be tilted at one side, as shown in FIG.5, as well as to be self-aligning on the bed 10.

The cover fastening mechanism comprises a pair of crank shafts 3.1 and32 joumaled in the end pieces 24 and 25 and the brace 26 parallel to andadjacent the inboard faces of the respective side rails 22 and 23. Each.crankshaft 31 and 32 consists of three axially aligned rods spacedend-to-end and a pair of axially aligned crank pins 33 welded in offset,overlapping relation therebetween (see FIG. 3) just aft and for.- wardof, respectively, the forward and rear stakes 30 along each side of bed10. The catches, generally indicated at 34, are operated by thecrankpins 33 and each comprise a generally upright tubular metal housing35 having anaxially extending, diametrical slot 36 in its upper halfopening through its upper end, the slot 36 having a width equal to thediameter of a crankpin 33 and receiving the latter therethrough. Eachhousing 35 is retained on its crankpin 33 by means of an extensible coilspring 37 under tension hooked at its upper end over the crankpin 33 ina circumferential groove therein which frictionally engages the upperend of spring 37 so that the latter does not rotate relative to thecrankpin 33 nor slip lengthwise therealong. The lower end of spring 37is hooked over an anchor pin 38 transversely through the lower end ofthe housing 35. Across the upper outboard wall of the forward pair ofhousings 35 is welded. a transverse metalplate forming a stop 39 forpurposes to be described. A hook member 40, bent from a stout piece of rmetal strap or the like and having an upturned nose lba, is welded tothe lower outboard wall of each housing 35 so that it extends laterallytoward the adjacent bed sidewall 12 or 13, as the case may be, andbeneath its respective flange 116, the lateral extent of the forwardpair of hooks 40 being greater than that of the rear pair. The upper endof the slot as of each housing 35 is provided with a transverse safetypin 41, for purposes to be described. The outboard walls at the upperends,

and the inboard walls at the lower ends, of housing 35 are fitted withresilient bumpers 42. The rear ends of crankshafts 31 and 32 extendbeyond the face of the rear end plate 29 and are fitted with appropriatehandles 43. Gaskets 44 are provided on the lower faces of side rails 22and 23, the rear end piece 25 and the front end plate 28 of cover 21 toseal them against the seats 15 and the tailgate 20.

To apply the cover 21, first the crankshaft 31 is rotatedcounterclockwise and the crankshaft 32 clockwise by the handles 43. Thenthe cover 21 is placed in position atop the bed with the tapered stakes30 engaging the recesses 17. As will be observed, the foregoingrotations of crankshafts 31 and 32 cause the crankpins 33 both to lowerthe housings 35 and also, owing to the aforesaid frictional engagementbetween the crankpins 33 and the upper ends of springs 37, to swing thehousing 35 about the axes of crankshafts 31 and 32 away from theadjacent flanges 16. In the foregoing position the catches 34 are intheir released positions, as shown in FIG. 2, with the crankpins 33 inthe bottoms of their slots 36. Thus the hooks 40 clear the flanges 16and permit the cover 21 to be lowered to engage the gaskets 44 with theseats of the walls of bed 10. Then the handles 43 are rotated in theirrespective opposite directions, whereupon the crankpins 33 swing thehousings 35 about axes of crankshafts 31 and 32 toward their respectiveflanges l6 and at the same time raise them so that the hooks 40 engagethe lower edges of the flanges 16. Continued rotation of the handles 43causes the crankpins 33 to rise in their slots 36, resulting in furtherextension of the springs 37, until the crankpins 33 pass up *overcenterwith respect to the axes of crankshafts 31 and 32. At this point, thecrankshafts 31 and 32 contact the stops 39 and the crankpins 33 pressagainst the inboard pairs of edges of the slots 36 of the forward pairof housing 35, thus preventing further rotation of crankshafts 31 and 32and so locking" the catches 34 in the position shown in FIG. 4. Thecover 21 is thereby tightly retained against the tension of the spring37. The safety pins 41 prevent the catches 34 from flying off thecrankpins 33 should the springs 37 break for some reason and the bumpers42 prevent rattling of the catches 34 when released against the adjacentflanges 16 and side rails 22 and 23.

1f access to the bed 10 through one side of the cover 21 is desired, thelatter side can be released in the foregoing manner and lifted, as shownat the right-hand side of P10. 5, the axial length of the slots 36 beingsufficient to allow further extension of the springs 37 of the left-handside, owing to the rise of the end pieces 24 and 25, before theleft-hand crankpins 33 contact their respective safety pins 41. Thelatter thus also function under these conditions to limit the amount ofrise of the right-hand side and to prevent over extension of the springs37 of the left-hand side. Hence, the cover 21 can be readily applied,removed or tilted simply upon appropriate rotations of the handles 43,which may also be provided with suitable locks to prevent unauthorizedaccess to the bed 10. In the same vein, the upturned noses 40a of hooks40 prevent a bar, for instance, inserted between bed 10 and cover 21,from being able to push or pry the hooks 40 off the flanges 16. If it isdesired to lift the rear end only of cover 21, all four catches 34 arefirst released but the crankshafts 31 and 32 are rotated only enough forthis purpose for the rear, but not the front, pair of hooks 40 todisengage the flanges 16, this being possible owing to the greaterlateral extent of the forward pair of hooks 40. The rear end of cover 21is then lifted and may be supported by suitable struts or braces (notshown). Thereafter, the crankshafts 31 and 32 are rotated in the opposite directions to lock the forward pair of catches 34, thus retainingthe front end of cover 21 tightly on the bed 10 in the same manner as isthe left-hand side of cover 21 when the right-hand side is lifted asshown in FIG. 5. Upon complete removal of cover 21, no fittings remainbehind on the bed 10.

While the present invention has been described in terms of a particularembodiment thereof, being the best mode presently known of carrying outthe invention and detailed descriptive language has been used, it is notso limited. Instead, the following claims are to be read as encompassingall adaptions and modifications of the invention falling within thespirit and scope thereof.

lclaim:

1. In a removable cover to close over the open bed of a pickup truck ofthe type having a pair of opposite sidewalls with overhanging ledgeportions on the inner faces thereof adjacent their top edges, said coverhaving a pair of opposite side members engageable with the top edges ofthe sidewalls of the bed when said cover is operatively disposedthereover, the improvements in said cover comprising: means carried bysaid cover effective to secure said cover side members to the top edgesof the sidewalls of the bed, said securing means including a pair ofcrankshafts disposed in side-by-side relation to respective ones of saidcover side members and journaled for rotation in said cover, each ofsaid crankshafts having at least one pair of crankpins disposedtherealong adjacent the forward and rear ends of said cover, each ofsaid crankpins carrying a catch assembly comprising an extensible springanchored at one end to said crankpin and at its other end to hook meanscarried by and extending transversely from said crankpin, rotation ofsaid crankshaft in one direction causing said crankpin to move said hookmeans laterally from a released position toward and under the adjacentledge portion of the bed when said cover is operatively disposedthereon, further rotation of said crankshaft in said direction firstelevating both said crankpin and said hook means relative to the axis ofsaid crankshaft until said hook means engages said ledge portion andthereafter extending said spring until said hook means has reached. alocked position in which said crankpin has passed its uppermost positionrelative to the axis of said crankshaft, said hook means in its lockedposition being retained therein by stop means preventing furtherrotation of said crankshaft in said direction.

2. The cover of claim 1 wherein each of said hook means includes agenerally upright tubular housing containing said spring, said springbeing anchored at its lower end to said housing, said housing having atransverse, axially extending slot in its upper portion receiving saidcrankpin transversely therethrough, said crankpin being disposed in thelower portion of said slot when said hook means is in its releasedposition and in the upper portion of said slot when said hook means isin its locked position.

3. The cover of claim 2 including means resisting rotation of saidcrankpin relative to said housing, whereby said housing is swingableabout the axis of said crankshaft upon rotation thereof.

4. The cover of claim 3 wherein each of said springs is in an extendedposition when its respective hook means is in its released position,said resisting means comprising frictional engagement between the upperend of said spring and said crankpin owing to said spring extension.

5. The cover of claim 2 wherein the axial extent of each of said slotsis sufficient to accommodate further extension of each of said springswhen said catch assemblies along one side of said cover are in theirlocked positions, said catch assemblies along the other side of saidcover are in their released positions and said other side of said coveris elevated relative to the bed, and including means carried by saidhousings and disposed at the upper end of each of said slots to preventstill further extension of said springs.

6. The cover of claim 5 wherein the transverse extent of said hook meansof the forward pair of said catch assemblies is greater than thetransverse extent of the rear pair of said catch assemblies, whereby therear pair of said catches are in their released positions before theforward pair of said catch assemblies upon rotation of said crankshafts.

7. The cover of claim 6 wherein the bed includes a plurality ofdownwardly extending recesses in the tops of the sidewalls thereof, andwherein said cover includes a plurality of depending stakes fixed tosaid side members effective to fittingly engage the recesses and locatesaid cover horizontally relative to the bed, said stakes beingdownwardly tapered effective to permit one side or the rear end of saidcover, when only the catch assemblies along said side or end,respectively, are in their released positions, to be elevated relativeto the bed.

1. In a removable cover to close over the open bed of a pickup truck ofthe type having a pair of opposite sidewalls with overhanging ledgeportions on the inner faces thereof adjacent their top edges, said coverhaving a pair of opposite side members engageable with the top edges ofthe sidewalls of the bed when said cover is operatively disposedthereover, the improvements in said cover comprising: means carried bysaid cover effective to secure said cover side members to the top edgesof the sidewalls of the bed, said securing means including a pair ofcrankshafts disposed in side-by-side relation to respective ones of saidcover side members and journaled for rotation in said cover, each ofsaid crankshafts having at least one pair of crankpins disposedtherealong adjacent the forward and rear ends of said cover, each ofsaid crankpins carrying a catch assembly comprising an extensible springanchored at one end to said crankpin and at its other end to hook meanscarried by and extending transversely from said crankpin, rotation ofsaid crankshaft in one direction causing said crankpin to move said hookmeans laterally from a released position toward and under the adjacentledge portion of the bed when said cover is operatively disposedthereon, further rotation of said crankshaft in said direction firstelevating both said crankpin and said hook means relative to the axis ofsaid crankshaft until said hook means engages said ledge portion andthereafter extending said spring until said hook means has reached alocked position in which said crankpin has passed its uppermost positionrelative to the axis of said crankshaft, said hook mEans in its lockedposition being retained therein by stop means preventing furtherrotation of said crankshaft in said direction.
 2. The cover of claim 1wherein each of said hook means includes a generally upright tubularhousing containing said spring, said spring being anchored at its lowerend to said housing, said housing having a transverse, axially extendingslot in its upper portion receiving said crankpin transverselytherethrough, said crankpin being disposed in the lower portion of saidslot when said hook means is in its released position and in the upperportion of said slot when said hook means is in its locked position. 3.The cover of claim 2 including means resisting rotation of said crankpinrelative to said housing, whereby said housing is swingable about theaxis of said crankshaft upon rotation thereof.
 4. The cover of claim 3wherein each of said springs is in an extended position when itsrespective hook means is in its released position, said resisting meanscomprising frictional engagement between the upper end of said springand said crankpin owing to said spring extension.
 5. The cover of claim2 wherein the axial extent of each of said slots is sufficient toaccommodate further extension of each of said springs when said catchassemblies along one side of said cover are in their locked positions,said catch assemblies along the other side of said cover are in theirreleased positions and said other side of said cover is elevatedrelative to the bed, and including means carried by said housings anddisposed at the upper end of each of said slots to prevent still furtherextension of said springs.
 6. The cover of claim 5 wherein thetransverse extent of said hook means of the forward pair of said catchassemblies is greater than the transverse extent of the rear pair ofsaid catch assemblies, whereby the rear pair of said catches are intheir released positions before the forward pair of said catchassemblies upon rotation of said crankshafts.
 7. The cover of claim 6wherein the bed includes a plurality of downwardly extending recesses inthe tops of the sidewalls thereof, and wherein said cover includes aplurality of depending stakes fixed to said side members effective tofittingly engage the recesses and locate said cover horizontallyrelative to the bed, said stakes being downwardly tapered effective topermit one side or the rear end of said cover, when only the catchassemblies along said side or end, respectively, are in their releasedpositions, to be elevated relative to the bed.